Just The News

Pennsylvania health officials announced the deaths of two unvaccinated residents from measles, the first such fatalities in the state in 35 years and the first in the US in 2026. National measles cases reached 2,777 as of August 20, 2026, up from 2,289 cases and three deaths in 2025. Officials declined to release identities or additional details citing privacy.

Tim Curry, known for originating the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, died at age 80 at his home in Los Angeles. His death was reported by longtime manager Marcia Hurwitz, with no cause disclosed. Curry had previously suffered a stroke in 2012.

The Department of Justice seized online domains for QScan and QTRouter on Wednesday, platforms operated by the Chinese state-sponsored group QTFY and used to target U.S. government networks and critical infrastructure. Verified victims include the Federal Reserve, U.S. Senate, Department of Justice, NASA, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, and National Institutes of Health. Court documents unsealed in California federal court link the activity to Nanjing Xinjiuwei Network Technology Company.

The Trump administration filed a petition with the Supreme Court seeking review of a D.C. Circuit ruling that blocked a Day One executive order barring asylum claims by individuals who crossed the southern border outside ports of entry. The order revives elements of the prior Remain in Mexico policy and was submitted by Solicitor General John Sauer. Lower courts have halted the measure, prompting the administration to argue that the D.C. Circuit should not have the final word on this immigration enforcement tool.

Three people were arrested for assault at a rally organized by Nick Shirley at the State Capitol, where hundreds of supporters and counterprotesters gathered. Assembly Bill 2624, authored by Assemblymember Mia Bonta and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, protects personal identifiable information of immigrant services organization workers from online publication. Republican lawmakers have referred to the measure as the 'Stop Nick Shirley Act,' citing First Amendment concerns raised by Sen. Tony Strickland and Shirley at a press conference.

A Suffolk University poll conducted August 20-23 among 500 likely Iowa voters found Republican Ashley Hinson leading Democrat Josh Turek 45-41 percent in the open Senate race and Democrat Rob Sand leading Republican Zach Lahn 48-44 percent in the gubernatorial contest. Both margins fall within the survey's +/-4.4 percent margin of error. The poll was released by The Hill and Just The News.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced US sanctions on Iran, describing the measures as an economic D-Day and including secondary sanctions on entities trading with Iran. The United Arab Emirates ended all trade with Iran, while China has continued importing Iranian oil despite prior US warnings. The Iranian rial reached a record low amid these developments.

Target withdrew the 'Kids’ Glows under Blacklight Circus Clown' costume from sale and issued a public apology after the product image showed a young Black male model. The company described the decision as correcting an error that could be hurtful to Black customers. Three sources confirm the removal and apology statement.

Rep. Byron Donalds, the Republican nominee for Florida governor, selected state Sen. Bryan Avila as his running mate. Donalds defeated multiple opponents in the recent GOP primary and now faces Democrat David Jolly in the general election.

Mike Lindell, who finished second in the Minnesota Republican gubernatorial primary behind Lisa Demuth, announced plans to seek a temporary restraining order against Secretary of State Steve Simon after withholding the $825,000 recount fee. The dispute centers on whether the recount approved by the State Canvassing Board on August 18 will examine only ballots cast for the top two candidates. Lindell has asked the court to waive the Monday payment deadline set by the Secretary of State's office pending a ruling on the recount's scope.

U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer denied Ghislaine Maxwell's self-filed habeas corpus petition seeking to overturn her 2021 conviction and 20-year sentence for assisting Jeffrey Epstein in the sexual abuse of teenage girls. The 67-page ruling described Maxwell's claims, which relied on materials from the Epstein Files Transparency Act, as meritless and largely frivolous. Maxwell, age 64, argued that accusers' lawyers functioned as de facto government agents and that her due process rights were violated.

A vessel was struck in the Strait of Hormuz hours after President Trump unveiled an economic campaign against Iran that included sanctions and 50% tariffs on Canadian goods. U.S. forces separately destroyed a suspected narco-sub in the eastern Pacific under Operation Southern Spear, killing two individuals. Sources confirm the timing of the Hormuz incident and the Pacific strike but provide no verified perpetrator or direct causal link.

Darline Graham, appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster after Sen. Lindsey Graham's death, faces Rep. Ralph Norman in the Republican primary runoff for the U.S. Senate seat. The Department of Justice is deploying four Civil Rights Division attorneys and two local staff to monitor polls in Charleston, citing election transparency.

A study published in the British Medical Journal found that at least one in four former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 and donated their brains had CTE, with nearly two-thirds of those cases also meeting criteria for dementia. The research, conducted by Mass General Brigham, Boston University, and the Concussion Legacy Foundation, links the condition to repeated head impacts and notes it can only be diagnosed post-mortem. An NFL spokesperson stated the league continues efforts to reduce head impacts.

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a draft rule proposing a $103,265 fee on H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those using the advanced-degree exemption and for workers already inside the United States. The fee would be paid at filing in addition to existing charges and would not apply to universities, hospitals, or research institutions. A prior $100,000 H-1B fee was vacated by a federal judge as an unlawful tax.

Sen. Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman advanced to the Republican primary runoff to succeed the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. The Department of Justice is deploying four Civil Rights Division attorneys and additional staff to monitor polls in Charleston. The contest occurs alongside a similar runoff in Oklahoma.

Donald Trump announced a 50 percent tariff on automobiles, parts, and raw materials from Canada. Multiple Truth Social posts criticized Canadian trade practices and Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Sources disagree on whether the tariffs have taken effect or begin in 2027.

Multiple sources report that Dolly Parton died at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer. Former presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama issued statements honoring her. Several biographical and timeline details remain unverified or supported by limited sourcing.

Mike Mazzei won the Republican primary runoff for Oklahoma governor by defeating current Attorney General Gentner Drummond. Mazzei, a former state senator endorsed by Donald Trump and term-limited Governor Kevin Stitt, will face Democrat Cyndi Munson in November. The race featured a narrow margin and highlighted divisions within the state GOP.

Multiple outlets report Dolly Parton died at age 80, with her family announcing the death on Tuesday. President Trump ordered flags at half-staff and stated in a Wednesday Glenn Beck interview that Parton was not very political and that he knew her a little. Unverified claims include Parton declining the Presidential Medal of Freedom from both Trump and Biden administrations.

Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley sent a letter to Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley questioning the company's collection, retention, and dissemination of data from its AI-powered license plate cameras. The inquiry, conducted under the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on crime and counterterrorism, follows reports that the 120,000-camera network has aided roughly one million police investigations and helped locate around 10,000 missing people. Flock Safety spokesperson Paris Lewbel confirmed receipt of the letter and stated the company will respond directly to the subcommittee.

The US State Department has initiated training for consular officers worldwide on screening immigrant visa applicants for potential public benefits dependency. Appointments at embassies and consulates are being rescheduled to accommodate the sessions, which focus on consistent evaluation under existing law. Coverage of the initiative comes exclusively from right-center sources.

A coalition of 50 chambers of commerce representing immigrant-owned businesses filed suit Monday against Mayor Zohran Mamdani's proposal for city-operated grocery stores, alleging violations of New York civil rights laws and the state constitution's Equal Protection Clause. The Multicultural Business Coalition seeks a permanent injunction, citing antitrust concerns and tortious interference. The filing follows a Wednesday letter to City Hall, with one unverified report comparing the plan to a Walmart entry.

Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, the Republican incumbent, faces Democrat Rep. Mary Peltola and Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher who initially sought the GOP nomination. Former Anchorage mayor Dan A. Sullivan endorsed the incumbent. Alaska's Division of Elections initially barred Dan J. Sullivan for lack of good faith before a judge overturned the decision.

A Pentagon official discovered classified documents on the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan stored in safes, according to reporting from Just The News. Sean Parnell leads a special review panel examining the withdrawal, which included the Abbey Gate bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members and approximately 170 Afghan civilians. One unverified report from Newsmax refers to the Pentagon finding hidden files on the war's end.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth will lead a Pentagon ceremony at 3 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday marking the fifth anniversary of the Abbey Gate attack during the 2021 Kabul evacuation. The event honors Marines killed or wounded in the ISIS-K suicide bombing that killed 13 Americans. A Pentagon inquiry into the incident, initiated in May 2025, continues under the current administration.

Lt. Col. Michael Schrama set the trial for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and three co-defendants for June 5, 2028, after rejecting a January 2027 start. The case involves accusations tied to the September 11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. Ongoing appeals concern evidence admissibility and one defendant's competency.

Just The News reported that Dolly Parton died Tuesday at age 80, citing her birth in Sevier County as one of 12 children and her founding of the Imagination Library in 1995. Fox News carried an unverified quote attributed to Peyton Manning. Multiple officials issued statements, but primary confirmation of the death remains absent.

Darline Graham Nordone defeated Ralph Norman 52.3% to 47.7% in the Republican primary runoff for the special Senate election to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. Democratic nominee Annie Andrews released her first general-election advertisement the following day. Donald Trump endorsed Nordone after criticizing Norman for supporting Nikki Haley in 2024.

U.S. District Court Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. denied Minnesota's request for a temporary restraining order to halt the release of ICE agent Christian Castro from a Texas jail. The ruling found the case unripe for adjudication, allowing the state's 90-day detention limit to expire and potentially freeing Castro as early as Thursday. Minnesota had sought to enforce extradition on charges stemming from a January shooting of a Venezuelan migrant.

U.S. durable-goods orders exceeded forecasts in July according to WSJ reporting. A Commerce Department release showed the personal consumption expenditures price index rising 0.2 percent monthly and 3.7 percent annually, matching expectations. The data reflect manufacturing momentum alongside inflation remaining above the Federal Reserve target.

Zymire Hughes, age 22, was arrested in Las Vegas and is held at Clark County Detention Center pending extradition to Pennsylvania. He is accused of accosting multiple people in Philadelphia's Center City on August 12 while wearing a mask for over 30 minutes. Multiple details regarding his movements, arrest circumstances, and mask description remain unverified across available reports.

The House Oversight Committee released the transcript of its July 24 voluntary interview with Jes Staley, who oversaw JPMorgan Chase’s 15-year relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Staley described a 2009 or 2010 sexual encounter with an Epstein assistant as consensual. JPMorgan settled related claims for $290 million in 2023.

Jed York, owner and CEO of the San Francisco 49ers, was arrested in East Palestine, Ohio, during an undercover operation after allegedly arranging payment for sexual activity. He pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools after the prostitution charge was reduced. The NFL stated it would review the matter under its personal conduct policy while the team acknowledged awareness without further comment.

ICE recorded 49,571 arrests in July, a 15 percent increase from June and 70 percent from February, according to data reviewed by the Associated Press. Local law enforcement contributed to 6,500 of those arrests, or 13 percent, with Florida and Texas accounting for nearly 20,000 combined. Supported claims include arrests of Haitian migrants with expired Temporary Protected Status and operations during minor traffic stops; several program expansion figures remain unverified.

Enes Kanter Freedom clashed with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud courtside during a WNBA game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever and was ejected. Freedom wore a shirt stating the definition of a woman as an adult human female and was holding his hands up in celebration after Sophie Cunningham's three-pointer when the exchange began. Natasha Cloud reportedly screamed that Cunningham was not going to have sex with Freedom.

President Trump posted a tribute on Truth Social to the 13 American servicemembers killed in the August 26, 2021 Abbey Gate bombing and formally declared August 26, 2026 a national day of remembrance. The attack was carried out by a lone ISIS-K operative during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Specific names of the fallen remain unverified in available reporting.